New-York tribune., 1887-05-15
A SINGULAR DILEMMA.
rHE AvOwAL-


CHANGING to look into her garden she inslnctiysly
sis rinsists that showed little sign Of disarray.
Miss Lucilla bushed; and as the only occupant
OF the garden vas her niece bending industIouSSy S
over rOse-busb and as the tending OF rose
seems upoa tho face of il, an occupation Oh an oA
fremeiy harmless and nofiensive nature IL Is 70
be presumed ttat she blushed on some one eisg ss
account, not On Gey EoyapnareStly travelling above
the garden wall, and in the direction VI tuo s"to
The hat have been aAS S.s Moog asa with
IN cxtra flattcr of the straw colored ringets Inc
French windows were standing open, and Lucy
heard this time and lifted her head. It Is really y
NOT nv fault, Lucy IL gentlemen will behave IN
this way am not to blame for it but people VIII
tak-n country place like this they are sure 10 ~
think of such things-men hardly ever 40 puI no
forgets that continually run the risk, while re-
main single, OF having somebody % han'Y vssterSav
I,ucy. if Mr.. Westbrook is coming again to-day"
calculated Miss Morton, shaking her heau, nias :,
ling of i'm portance and agitation III her 'oh0' !"
can only be for one reason" - :. I,or,s
The color was coming and going in Lucys
cheeks She had dropped tte ossSSi ,S - se @ na1 hs,
amt noticed her ccnfuson-a thing altogether nm
called for on Lucy's part and even presuinp'uous
aWhat a stats Of heat you are in, child p said
Miss Morton, with annoyance; ana your Ia. 1oIs Is
almost on the back OF S0pf Reaq Of hope hs
VIII make allowances for you, as often have TO
10 am sure. Not" said Miss Lucllla, resenting,
I know or that you need be afraid that am going
10 part with You. SO far from that being the case.
my dear, onte made up my mna iroh ~ one !, rIS, rn.
that il Mr. Westbrook had no 0OJectlOn 10 III, yof
should live with Us. hope yoa IKE MIN as an
uncle though no one OF course, could expecr me 10
consult sou the matter Dear aeat v what 'Ss aTs
Won colOring so for7 You surely did not thlnk
was going TO refuse everybody !" s
q Ii is SO warm, aunt" said Lucy, aimost maui
ibly; but she Strengthened the offending hat, ana
hent again over her rose bush. Miss NORTON slt,
ting in the shaded GOODNESS OF pleasant rOo uaa
no sun-rays pouring down upon her. ana no aDuhu-
ance of fresses to become entangled; tut III was
undesirable nor indeed, was 1t IN Lueys thongh's'
" Heat never made me look like that" said Miss
IucilIa CON placently when the gate clicked; ana
she retreated hastily, as she heard the sounu, Ior
final arrangement Oh tne stra"-"otoA0u AiN5'0''
She was sentimental; she was, if the truth be
told about her, inordinately VAIN YET hinaGt
heart than Miss Lncilas never beat, nor was ~
wonder that, this particular occasion, IL shoui9
be in state of agtation for she was alty Two, anu
fate had so wiled it that she had never possessed
lover She arranged the rlngets Win a nasty
hand and then turned, expecting 10 see MI. west
brook approaching the open NV ad made his
wa, to the rosebush. He appeared 10 nave SOME
thing TO say to Lucy, or. peIhaps-lt was qhi.S9 qnS
nossiblc-he too was agitated. and manilke, had
suddenly been seized with desire to deier the
important moment: 81, ,,.,.. rr;.h
the visitor. man of about thirty-two, with q
nleasant face of q bcylsh type; but the clasp was
more lingering than usual, ON his part. ths a1ter
noon, and she had already noticed a aerIess % T.,
low tones for little whie they had forgotten
Miss Morton, though the rlnslets mad been ad1
justed again. and the possessoi oil them haa peepeu
imnatiently ACROSS tine glass. A searching ex-
pIessvo look from tbs man, shy iaintiy iespoIh-
siye plance from the girl, and John Westbrook
conntrv doctor with poor practice, was te npted
once again to do thing he considered ulShonol-
able, tn bind young girl by dolnIte prom'se 10
man with uO settled income, when cOuRn-a
slightly mincing and an altogether arrestlng cough
became the warning that recalled him to himself
He released Lucy's hand-.he had taken IL ior
mnment ostensiby to examine scratch thorn
had given It-and then, with lingering .ooK at
her, and with the consciousness OF an unspoKeh
understanding between them. he walked INTO the
honse lie met gently reproachful look from
Miss Luclas eyes. Kind creature! and he owed SO
much to her. He would not have appeared 10 wouhd
her dignity for the world -,
Ho dropped into seat beside her, and, with a
satisfied SMILE Miss Luciila saw ne was watchlng
her fingers. busy with some fancy work. IL was
an orthodox commencement.
aPm afraid you're thinking Pm very frequent
vistor bat wanted to tell you some news I've
heard since yesterday. think yo1! I've pleased.
Miss Morton but feel sure OF that you've
always been SO kind to me-" he said drawing. in
his animation, little nearer. You are tue
aI have always taken-an interest in you, Mr..
Westbrook," said Miss Lueilla softly. "Oh you
needn't mind that noise; it is only the parrot GEAR
thing"
aYou have made me so welcome" Mr.. Westbrook
went on with something remarkably like tremoi
in his voice. !" poor doctor with no practice, -
we'll with nothing 10 speak of at all events; you
were the first to hold out helping band 10 me- and
your welcome has been the same ever since. Bnt
van are alw avs kind hear the same from every
body. Your niece. Miss Lucy tells me you have the
Warmest heart in the world -.
aMr Wostbrook, you really must not-fatter
me-" murmuTed Miss Morton, with an agitated
futter of the 1laxen curls. AS TO Lucy, poor
child, it is natural she should be attached to me
the orphan child of my brother; my god-chlld,
ter of course that should adopt her, and she
thinks too well of me in consequence. .
"Luclla p said her companion, with an uninls,
takably tender emphasis Is her name Lucllla ]
did not know it. 1t is beautiful name"
q Do Won think so I" returned Miss Morton, blush
ing. al am glad you like it. have sometimes
thought 1t lttle-Old maidish." ,.,. -, n.
Like it, How could I help liking itf Oh
sai6 taxing her hand impulsvely. "You must
know all about it; you have been so kind and
good and you have never discouraged aS me yet cb
,yretched lookout but what came to tell You is
that nave just had letter, Offering me an ex
cellept chance in New-York. l have cousin
there a doctor; his practice. he writes me, !, !
getting very large, and his health is not what II
used to be; and he asks me to JOIN hIm, ana oe
l,eye he'll take me into partnership eventually, J.
Ali goes WELL Oh, Miss Morton dear Miss Morton J
calculated the young man ardently. holding he
nnresistipQ hand with still closer pressure, " you
have seen Il for q long while, am snre and have
still been so Kind to me. have no tight 10 SPEAK
but + wrote when woas hSd q. rsH' so 40
nose found II impossible to leave, to come hom'
for my wifeY"
Mss Lucillas natural impulse was to sink grace
fuIy as far as excessive st0utness would PERM
her into The suitors arms bu3 as he with really
morbid sense of honor, refraned from loverlike be
hayior of a kind too marked, she thought better o
H. But she marmured-qute audiby. in spite o
her emotion. 1t would be Yes You must have
ALREADY OWNED il John"
aYon called me 'Johnf That is Kind OF you
wish l could show you how much ! feel you
goodness Bot. supposing couldnt leave; SUP
posing it were entirely cut of the question ~, o.
LLciIia," said Mr. Westbrook, with q tende
lingering emphasis on the name. might Dray
conventonalites and come out TO me r. ,
sYes" murmured Miss Merton, after moment
reflection she would. | am sure she would. Ii
fact-John, will promise you that she shall
9How can thank you !" said John W estbrooB
with simple fervor; and, 10 h,s gratitude. he raise
fha nlnlnp white hand 10 bis lips. IL was th